Hi, Folks!
Here is my latest book review. I retain copyright, but if you wish to
publish it elsewhere, just ask!
More book reviews soon -- it's too cold to go outside!
Dorene
Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety
of the Genetically Engineered Foods Youre Eating by Jeffrey M. Smith, Yes!
Books, 2003. ISBN: 0-9729665-7-9 $27.95
Publishers choose subtitles to summarize books succinctly--especially since
patrons tend to read far more book titles than they do book
reviews. Smith, who has a background in marketing, knows that genetic
engineering raises many questions, but chose to focus this book solely on
the health issues surrounding those genetically modified organisms we
consume as part of our daily diet. His subtitle perfectly summarizes his
contention (amply referenced and footnoted) that genetically engineered
food currently being consumed by the American public is sold not because it
is safe, but because government rubber-stamps the food safety data
provided by multi-national corporations who are looking out only for their
bottom line.
If youre used to science served dry, the first chapter, which reads like a
lost script from Unsolved Mysteries may put you off its chatty,
emotional and full of the personal feelings of Smiths major
characters. However, once Smith begins to explain the science behind
genetic engineering in the second chapter, one realizes that he not only
understands the complex processes used to alter the cellular environment,
he can explain those complex processes so that you can understand them,
too. Smith desperately wants everyone to understand how rudimentary and
full of unintended consequences the current techniques are which produce
the genetically engineered food most of us are consuming unawares since,
unlike in Europe, the US government does not require genetically engineered
food to be labeled as such. If being accessible to a wide audience means
borrowing from the you are there style of true crime TV shows, Smith will
plow right in and use that style. Luckily, he has the footnotes, memos and
transcripts to back up his crime novel style.
If you dont have time to read the book, most of the salient points are
listed on Smiths website
<http://www.seedsofdeception.com/>http://www.seedsofdeception.com I still
believe the best introductory book on genetic engineering is Genetic
Engineering, Food and Our Environment by Luke Anderson (ISBN:
1-890132-55-1); however, the advantages of Smiths book is that its more
recent (2003 to Andersons 1999) so it includes more recent history
(unfortunately, the actions of industry and government have not changed a
bit from 1999 to 2003 only the names of the players have changed) and
that Smith, especially in the second chapter and the epilogue, explain
current techniques and current understanding of the cellular/genetic
environment more fully than Anderson. If youve been put off by
pro-biotechnology pundits saying that those who oppose genetic engineering
are doing so because they dont understand the science, then you should
read Smiths book his greatest strength is that he does understand the
science and after reading this book, you will, too.
Smith spends the last two chapters of his book urging folks to join his
e-mail newsletter and to buy discounted copies of the book for
policymakers. Im not sure why anyone should join Smiths organization
rather than any of the others listed on his Links webpage (Organic
Consumers Association, The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods,
Organic Trade Association, etc or even Seed Savers Exchange [which he does
not list]) who have been discussing this issue much longer than he
has. Considering that Smith spends much of his book explaining that
collusion between US government officials and agri-business executives is
responsible for genetically engineered food being on the market in the
first place, Im not sure what giving a copy of this book to policymakers
would achieve, either. Smith has me convinced that these folks already
know that genetically engineered foods are of questionable safety, but have
chosen to ignore the entire issue so that they can benefit from the
revolving door between regulator and regulated and make big bucks for
themselves while doing so. Rather than sending such people a book that
lists what they already know, it appears that joining one of the well-known
campaigns to label or further test genetically engineered foods would be
more useful.
To his credit, Smith does encourage both political action and provides
sample letters for doing so on his website. If you are still confused
about the science (and the politics that influences what portion of that
science is published) surrounding genetic engineered food, Seeds of
Deception is a good place to start your own education on the issue.
Reviewed by Dorene Pasekoff, Coordinator
St. Johns United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden
Phoenixville, PA